Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 71.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Hong Kong, China, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Hong Kong, China is 71.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Hong Kong, China peaked at 72.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 68.2%, in 2010.
That places Hong Kong, China 75th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Hong Kong, China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 69.4% | — |
| 1991 | 69.8% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 69.1% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 68.9% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 69.0% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 69.1% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 69.1% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 69.2% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 69.4% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 69.3% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 69.2% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 69.7% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 70.2% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 69.8% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 69.9% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 69.9% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 69.9% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 70.0% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 69.5% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 69.5% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 68.2% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 68.9% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 69.5% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 70.6% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 70.7% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 71.2% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 71.5% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 71.9% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 72.4% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 72.1% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 71.6% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 72.0% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 71.3% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 71.2% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 71.5% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 71.6% | +0.2% |
Hong Kong, China compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong, China's 71.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 76.2%, 94% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong, China's 71.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 70.5%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 69.2% | 68.9% | 69.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.8% | 69.2% | 70.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.7% | 68.2% | 72.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.5% | 71.2% | 72.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong, China
More work & labour data for Hong Kong, China
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 2,981 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 55.13 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,663 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 2.78 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.06 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 149,185 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,833 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 53.6 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.56 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Hong Kong, China?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Hong Kong, China was 71.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.2% in 2010.
- How does Hong Kong, China rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Hong Kong, China ranks 75th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Hong Kong, China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Hong Kong, China data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.